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BLUETOOTH GROWTH ACCELERATING |
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Written by Adam Gosling
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Tuesday, 29 November 2005 |
Shipments of Bluetooth devices going through the roof – growing much faster than earlier predictions for the technology.
Sales are accelerating rapidly with new figures that suggest shipments have doubled in the last four months.
According to a statement distributed by the US-based Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG), the market has reached 9.5 million units shipping per week.
This is up form May this year when the same result was 4.75 million per week according to figures supplied by IMS Research.
"By doubling the Bluetooth shipments in just four months, Bluetooth technology has once again proved itself as the wireless technology for the personal area network," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth SIG. "As the market is thriving, the Bluetooth SIG listens to the needs of the market, while aiming to improve the positive user experience. Our new consumer programs encourage similar implementations for different product categories and enhance the users' understanding of expected performance."
Earlier this year research company In-Stat announced figures suggesting Bluetooth could be twice the size in 2005 than it was in 2004. At the time, the researcher estimated some 316 million Bluetooth devices would ship in 2005 and that figures could reach as high as 866 million by 2009. At its present run rate of 9.5 million a week, there would be 494 million sold in a 52 week period. If growth continues at this pace it could mean even higher numbers for 2006.
Though hands free devices for mobile phones make up a significant percentage of demand interest in Bluetooth devices for VoIP softphones and wireless headphones for MP3 players is also helping to drive demand.
The intent of the new consumer programs is to recognise, manage and encourage people's expectations of their Bluetooth experience. All four programs are directed at the various ways consumers gather information and make buying decisions for Bluetooth enabled products.
Experience icons is a ubiquitous cross-industry communications tool for product manufacturers to communicate Bluetooth capabilities in products, achieving more informed purchase decisions by consumers and thus managing expectations. With the use of the experience icons in conjunction with the Bluetooth trademark, consumers can easily identify the capability of Bluetooth enabled products.
www.bluetooth.com is the official website where the industry and consumers alike can gather all relevant information about Bluetooth wireless technology. By early next year, the Bluetooth SIG launches a website aimed at facilitating education, and providing improved navigation, structure, search and unique tools that will help consumers understand the Bluetooth capabilities of various products.
User Terminology is a document with common user terminology recommended for manufacturing companies to use. The need for such a document has sprung out of the thousands of products produced by various manufacturers and the need to assure common terms and interfaces being used between manufacturers on a worldwide basis. The user terminology document is translated into 34 different languages and is intended to be used in consumer audience materials by Bluetooth members.
Best of Breed is a set of guidelines laid out for two types of Bluetooth implementations in different product categories: Basic and Best of Breed. In mobile phones, for instance, the Bluetooth SIG will publish the profiles recommended for the most comprehensive user experience in a Basic and a Best of Breed Mobile Phone. Products meeting the Best of Breed implementation will be featured in various areas of the redesigned www.bluetooth.com.
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